Rhode Island, the Highway State
Rhode Island Department of Transportation has learned that it lost its bid for a $175-million federal FASTLANE grant to rebuild the Route 6/10 Connector, and that’s probably good news for Rhode Islanders.

Despite the appearance of three options for the rebuild, RIDOT’s preferred plan was the massive, $1 billion dollar “Big Dig” proposal. The plan, which includes a makeover of the dilapidated highway, the addition of a network of freestanding bus rapid transit stations, and a new tunnel over the interchange, looked like it was in cruise control.

The 6/10 Connector project is outside of RIDOT’s comfort zone
In an era where city planners, backed by the US Department of Transportation, take every opportunity to replace urban highways with more efficient, transportation-friendly, and cost-effective networks, RIDOT’s “Big Dig” plan looks like a throwback to the 1950s. Typical of Eisenhower-era highway systems, RIDOT’s approach benefits long distance commuters at the expense of the residents who bear the brunt of living near the highway. It’s an antiquated, suburbs-first philosophy.

One of the biggest issues with RIDOT’s “Big Dig” proposal is a matter of maintenance. Not only does the proposal call for rebuilding the existing infrastructure – but it also suggests covering that rebuilt infrastructure with even more complicated infrastructure. We can’t afford to maintain the highway as it is. Now imagine adding a tunnel on top of it. I know, frightening. If you hadn’t noticed, Rhode Island has plenty of Kia-eating potholes and swiss cheese bridges braced by wooden planks as it is. It would seem prudent to simplify the project, not complicate it.

Almost transparent
To RIDOT’s credit, the transparency of the agency has increased since the dark days of the 90s when concerned citizens formed the group “DOT Watch” to keep the agency in check. If this were 1991, Rhode Island’s “Big Dig” would’ve already gone out to bid. Still, the agency was criticized for it’s public vetting process this Spring; a process that seemed to preclude one of the project’s key stakeholders: residents along the 6/10 corridor.

What’s the hurry?
With the news of the failed grant bid, maybe we can slow this project down and build something smarter. Thankfully, Providence Planning seems to be leading that effort.

The final result of this project doesn’t have to be an engineering marvel. And instead of just a maintenance chore this can be a success story – one that can be added to the dozens of urban highway removal success stories worldwide. All the project needs is to work invisibly and equally for all, without being the eyesore that it is today.

RIDOT first needs to abandon its 1950s highway-first mentality and reframe this project in way that benefits more than just the suburban commuter. This isn’t just an artery to shuttle workers in and out of Providence. We’ve already got highways, roads, trains, and buses for that. This is an opportunity to heal a scar that has severed neighborhoods, hindered tax growth, and stymied development through a vast section of Rhode Island’s urban core.

Oh, and public contest, branding effort, whatever it takes – the name “Route 10” needs to die along with the philosophy that built it in the first place.

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http://cranstonstyle.com/Planning-Development/burying-rhode-island-s-6-10-big-dig
Sat, 09 Jul 2016 19:58:14 GMTJosh Woodtag:cranstonstyle.com,2016-07-09:33d55e41a06b5896c553645161d1f98d/37ae120350a7fae084b6cabcfefb8994The Providence Ballpark Proposal and The Fuzzy Math of Stadium Economics [1]
Michael Leeds, a sports economist at Temple University, told Southern California Public Radio that the one thing economists can agree on is that sports stadiums have little to no impact on the local economy. “If you ever had a consensus in economics, this would be it,” ]]>

The Economics

…a study done by Brailsford & Dunlavey shows a new ballpark is expected to produce $12.3 million “in [annual] direct spending for the city and the state.”

“PawSox ownership said one of its consultants, Brailsford & Dunlavey, predicts the state will receive about $2 million in various annual taxes due to the ballpark, and with that, “the net annual cost to the State under the lease/sublease arrangement is estimated to be approximately $2 million.” Providence is projected to see an increase of $170,000 in annual incremental tax revenues.” – RIPR

One thing we can count on in any development proposal: the grossly inflated numbers offered by consultants. Naturally. That’s what they’re paid to do. Likewise, we can always count on the harsh truths offered by independent experts with no clients to please.

Michael Leeds, a sports economist at Temple University, told Southern California Public Radio that the one thing economists can agree on is that sports stadiums have little to no impact on the local economy. “If you ever had a consensus in economics, this would be it.”

“A baseball team has about the same impact on a community as a midsize department store,” Leeds added.

A good rule of thumb that economists use is to take what stadium boosters are telling you and move that one decimal place to the left, and that’s usually a good estimate of what you’re going to get,” Victor Matheson, a sports economist at College of the Holy Cross told SCPR in the same article. Of course this applies to pro sports, so who knows how much less impactful a minor league stadium could be, but Matheson’s math puts Rhode Island tax profits at about $200,000 a year. Not a big dent in the $5 million annual lease agreement that the state will be asked to pay.

The estimated direct spending figure is pegged at $12.3 million a year by the consultants. That’s an estimate of what visitors will spend in the city on game days. (I’d love to see the worksheets for this figure; It sounds like they’re expecting the typical family of 7 from Cranston to get their pre-game, dry-aged porterhouse at The Capital Grille). Applying Matheson’s math to this number adjusts it from consultants range, down to around $1.2 million annually. Again, we’re forgiving the fact that this math applies to pro sports stadiums.

Boosters love to mention the ballpark in Charlotte, North Carolina, as an example of an urban stadium success story. That city’s economic success owes more to the establishment of a popular light rail system that has triggered investment in the city’s core. But if one thing can be taken from Charlotte’s stadium, it’s the financial arrangement under which it was built. The city and county paid a one-time fee of $16 million dollars from hotel taxes, and the franchise picked up the rest. A bit more palatable than the $120+ million that Rhode Island taxpayers will be asked to contribute in the PawSox stadium agreement.

The Truth

If the essence of the PawSox experience could be summed up, it always seems to come back to quality family time out of the house and on a limited budget. It’s a perfect fit for minor league baseball, and maybe that’s why these multi-million dollar spending estimates by the consultants seem so out of place. But even if the PawSox owners are signaling a sea change in philosophy, the experts are telling us the numbers don’t add up. This stadium plan is not a good investment by the state.

I have a feeling the project is going to get built regardless of public opinion. At the very least Skeffington and the Gang could at least try to make the deal more palatable. Maybe use stadium naming rights to offset the public costs. Maybe the new PawSox owners should approach the Krafts and consider a joint venture in a stadium that splits time with soccer. If not the Revolution, then maybe a minor league team of the Revolution.

The location is the key in this proposal, and frankly, the PawSox need Providence more than Providence needs the PawSox. So If the owners can find more ways to keep their hands out of the video game-burned wallets of Rhode Island taxpayers, all the better.

A Footnote: The Park

The land in the stadium proposal was set aside as a park to satisfy federal land-use requirements in the 195 realignment project. It doesn’t matter how many gumdrop-shaped shrubs you cram along the walkways leading up to the turnstiles, a stadium isn’t a park. Imagine crossing the pedestrian bridge from the East Side to have a picnic in what should be the rolling landscape of a park on the west side, and instead you’re confronted by the cemented “East Entry Plaza.” Not a great place for a picnic. A stadium is not a substitute for open space, and open space is something Providence could use more of. Given the connection to the pedestrian bridge, the central location between the East Side and the “Knowledge District,” (and the complication of the utilities underground), this parcel of land is perfect for it. Students from the proposed nursing school next door could relax here. Waterfire can expand here. Tourists on the Riverwalk can marvel here. Residents can breathe here.

The supporters of this plan rightfully point out that if we build a park instead of a stadium, we’re looking at annual upkeep costs. But park maintenance is a fraction of this stadium’s annual lease, and it’s not difficult to foresee the formation of a group similar to the DID to handle those duties.

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http://cranstonstyle.com/Planning-Development/the-providence-ballpark-proposal-and-the-fuzzy-math-of-stadium-economics
Fri, 17 Apr 2015 01:49:52 GMTJosh Woodtag:cranstonstyle.com,2015-04-16:33d55e41a06b5896c553645161d1f98d/f80ac3fe4ab97950eccbea3d772ede30Earth Day Clean-ups
The West Bay Land Trust and Friends of the Pawtuxet, are holding two clean-ups in Cranston on Saturday, April 18, 2015, from 9:30am – 12:30pm. Click for the details.]]>
The West Bay Land Trust and Friends of the Pawtuxet, are holding two clean-ups in Cranston on Saturday, April 18, 2015, from 9:30am – 12:30pm.

Spend an hour or two or three, your help makes a big difference. Please RSVP to westbaylandtrust@hotmail with your site selection and your gloves size so we can get you covered.

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http://cranstonstyle.com/Nature-Outdoors/earth-day-clean-ups
Mon, 13 Apr 2015 23:17:41 GMTJosh Woodtag:cranstonstyle.com,2015-04-13:33d55e41a06b5896c553645161d1f98d/aa8e9581417e4700e1194a28040b05e5The Night Skies in Yosemite [1]
Yosemite National Park offers an island of darkness perfect for viewing the revolving dome of the night sky. Photographers and astronomers are drawn to the park where the Milky Way is so bright it casts shadows.

It’s amazing how much we miss under the orange glow of the street lights.

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Yosemite National Park offers an island of darkness perfect for viewing the revolving dome of the night sky. Photographers and astronomers are drawn to the park where the Milky Way is so bright it casts shadows.
It's amazing how much we miss under the orange glow of the street lights.

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http://cranstonstyle.com/Nature-Outdoors/the-night-skies-in-yosemite
Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:28:40 GMTJosh Woodtag:cranstonstyle.com,2012-08-28:33d55e41a06b5896c553645161d1f98d/f886b9389df09eb30935b86a41d56353Pensions By The Numbers
This is a short guide to understanding the Rhode Island pension crisis. I’m not a financial guru, so please bear with me.]]>

This is a short guide to understanding the Rhode Island pension crisis. I’m not a financial guru, so please bear with me.

Here are the numbers

36.34% The state’s contribution rate to state employees’ pensions.18.75% The employees’ contribution rate to their pensions. 1250% The growth rate of news articles that refer to Rhode Island as the already tired phrase:“Athens on the Pawtuxet” – and contribute nothing.

1986 General Assembly begins funding the plan on an actuarial basis. 21992 The year that actuarially required contributions to the pension fund were not made – due to the credit union crisis.22011 The year I had to look up what “actuarially” meant.

13350 The number of active teachers in Rhode Island. 22670 The approximate number of teachers in Rhode Island working second jobs. 3310,556 The number of times per year teachers are annoyed by someone who assumes teaching is easy.

67% The percentage of Rhode Island government workers in union contracts. 467% The percentage of Rhode Island government workers who siphon funds from their earnings into the pension fund. 412% The percentage of pension funds siphoned back into the state’s economy via Twin Oaks.

10 cents on every state tax dollar is spent on retired state workers. 520 cents on every state tax dollar will be spent on retired state workers if no action is taken to reform pensions in the next six years. 530 cents on every dollar is what they’re getting right now for 75 Drachmae. (See the entry: 250%, the growth rate of “Athens on the Pawtuxet” and contributing nothing.)

3% The rate at which COLAs were compounded until late 2009.23%/the inflation rate/or lower The current rate at which COLAs are adjusted.23% The percentage of Rhode Islanders who think state workers get free cases of Dr. Pepper every year.